Relay system



Dec. 1', 1925. 1,563,327

Q. A. BRACKETT RELAY SYSTEM Filed Jan. 20. 1921 WiTNESSES: INVENTOR Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

S T A T QUINCY A. :BnACnnrT, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ssIeNon ro wns'rINe- Housn ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A' conronATIoN or PENNSYL- VANIA.

RELAY sYsrnM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, QUINCY A. BRACKn'r'r, a-citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the. county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have a relay system that is normally inoperative but that shall become operative upon the reversal of the polarity of the circuit or of the apparatus to which it may be connected.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relay system, of the above indicated character, embodying an asymmetric valve, connected to the system in a reversed sense,

to become operative only upon the occurrence of a reversal of the polarity of the system, to control the same in accordance with the reversal.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system, of the above indicated character, that shall be simple andreliable in its operation.

In practicing my invention, I employ an asymmetric valve embodying an anode and a cathode, and connect the anode thereof to the negative terminal, and the cathode to the positive terminal, of the apparatus to be protected. Since, for normal operation, the potential of the anode should be positive with respect to the potential of the cathode, the valve remains inoperative until the polarity of the apparatus reverses.

Upon reversal of the polarity, the valve becomes operative to permit a current to traverse the same. A relay in the circuit of the valve may then be operated to (-Ontrol the apparatus as desired.

Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings are diagrammatic views of electrical circuits, illustrating the connections of relay systems embodying my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, an electrical translating apparatus l of predetermined polarity is connected to a circuit 2 through an interrupter 3. The interrupter 3 is provided with a trip coil 4, the circuit of which is controlled by a switch 5 and a relay operated switch 6.

An asymmetric valve 7 is employed to disconnect the apparatus 1 from the circuit 2, or to prevent the connection thereof, when the polarity reverses. The anode 8 of the valve 7' is connected to the negative terminal of the apparatus through the operating coil of a relay 9. The cathode 10 is connected to the positive terminal of the apparatus through a current-limiting resistor 11.

Since it is essential for the operation of the valve 7 that the potential of the anode 8 be positive with respect to the cathode 10, the valve will remain inoperative until the polarity reverses. verses, the relay 9 is operated to open the switch 6 and the interrupter 3 is opened.

Referring to Fig. 2,'the circuit shown i1- lustrates the connections of a threeelement bulb 12 and a shunt trip circuit which trips the interrupter when the polarity of the apparatus 1 reverses. Since the potential of the grid 13 .mustbe positive with respect to the potential of the cathode 14 in order to permit an electron stream to flow to the plate 15, the bulb may be rendered inoperative, until the polarity of ,1

the apparatus 1 reverses, by connecting the bulb in a reversed sense to render the grid normally negative with respect to the cathode. Upon a reversal'of polarity, the

resultant electron stream permits suflicient current to traverse the plate circuit to operate a relay 16 to trip the interrupter.

Although I have shown the valve as employed to trip the interrupter upon a re: versal of polarity, it is ob that the control relay 9 may be employed to accomplish other functions that may be desired when the polarity is reversed from normal.

I do not limit my invention to the specific arrangement, or to the apparatus that is illustrated, since various modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a circuit that shall have a predetermined polarity, means for energizing the circuit and connecting means therebetween, of an asymmetric valve so connected to the circuit to effect the disconnection thereof when the polarity of the energizing means reverses.-

2. The combination with a circuit that shall have a predetermined polarity, means for energizing the circuit and connecting means therebetween, of a one-way valve con nected to the circuit in a reversed sense to be rendered operative only upon a reversal of the polarity of the circuit to disconnect itfrom the energizing means. I

3. The combination with a circuit that shall have a predetermined polarity, means for energizing the circuit and connecting means therebetween, of apolarity-responsive means operatively energized only upon the occurrence of a reversal of the polarity of the circuit for disconnecting it from the energizing means.

4. The combination with a circuit that shall have a predetermined polarity, means for energizing the circuit and connecting means therebetween, of means that can be traversed by current in only one direction for controlling said connecting means, said means being connected to the circuit in a reversed sense to be inoperative normally and to be rendered operative only upon a reversal of the polarity of the circuit to control the circuit.

5. The combination with an electrical apparatus, of an asymmetric valve connected thereto for controlling the apparatus in accordance with the polarity thereof.

6. The combination with an electrical ap-.

paratus, of a unidirectional-current device connected thereto for controlling the apparatus in accordance with the polarity thereof.

7. The combination with an electrical translating apparatus that shall have a predetermined polarity, of an asymmetric valve for controlling the apparatus when the polarity reverses.

8. The combination with an electrical translating apparatus that shall have a predetermined polarity, of a unidirectional current device for controlling the apparatus in accordance with its polarity.

9. The combination with an electric apparatus in which a predetermined polarity is to be developed and an electric circuit to which the apparatus is to be connected, of means including an asymmetric valve adapted to be energized from the apparatus in accordance with the polarity thereof, means for connecting the apparatus to thecircuit and means controlled by the polarity-ener-' gized means for precluding 'the -connection of the apparatus to the circuit when the polarity developed in the apparatus is other than the predetermined polarity.

10. The combination with means that shall have a predetermined polarity, of a unidirectional-current device connected to said means in a reversed sense to be ren dered normally inoperative and means operated by the device upon the occurrence of a reversal in polarity for controlling the means of predetermined polarity.

11. The combination with an electric apparatus in which a predetermined polarity is to be developed and an electric circuit to which the apparatus is to'bearconnected, of connecting means between the apparatus and the circuit, switching means for controlling the operation of the connecting means and means including an asymmetric valve operative when other than a predetermined polarity is developed in the apparatus for controlling the energization ofthe switching means to preclude the operation of the connecting means.

12. The combination with an electric circuit having definite normal polarity and an asymmetric valve having a cathode and an anode connected to the positive and negative terminals of said circuit,.of a circuitinterrupter controlled by the current through said valve when the polarity of said rircuit is reversed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day of J anul QUINCY A; BRACKETT. 

